Appliance for automatic thread piecing in spinning or spinning and twisting machines

ABSTRACT

A device for piecing broken ends in spinning and twisting machines in which a piecing roller cooperates with a catching mechanism. The catching mechanism includes a pair of plates movable relative to one another and forming a V-shaped slot for pinching a broken thread end. The plates are located in a first plane and are supported on a common pivotal connection for rotation in a second plate transverse to the first plane upon breaking of the thread.

United States Patent Artamonova et a1.

15] 3,654,756 [451 Apr. 11,1972

APPLIANCE FOR AUTOMATIC THREAD PIECING IN SPINNING OR SPINNING AND TWISTING MACHINES U.S.S.R.

Filed: Feb. 6, 1969 Appl. No.: 796,969

Foreign Application Priority Data May 17, 1967 U.S.S.R ..1077606 Feb. 8, 1968 U.S.S.R.... ..1213776 Feb. 8, 1968 U.S.S.R ..1213777 [52] US. Cl. ..57/34 R [51] Int. Cl. ..D01h 15/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..57/34, 54, 34 R, 52

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,466,862 9/1969 Artamonova et al ..57/34 R 3,128,590 4/1964 Escursell-Prat ..57/34 3,149,451 9/1964 Benson et al ...57/34 X 3,373,551 3/1968 Gillono et a1. ..57/34 3,398,521 8/1968 Bell et a1 ..57/34 3,398,522 8/1968 Niederer ..57/34 3,438,187 4/1969 Escursell-Prat... ..57/34 3,445,997 5/1969 Escursell-Prat ..57/34 Primary Examiner.lohn Petrakes Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen [5 7] ABSTRACT A device for piecing broken ends in spinning and twisting machines in which a piecing roller cooperates with a catching mechanism. The catching mechanism includes a pair of plates movable relative to one another and forming a V-shaped slot for pinching a broken thread end. The plates are located in a first plane and are supported on a common pivotal connection for rotation in a second plate transverse tothe first plane upon breaking of the thread.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 11 m2 3,654,756

SHEET 3 [IF 5 PATENTEDAPR 11 I972 3.654, 756

SHEET 5 0F 5 APPLIANCE FOR AUTOMATIC THREAD PIECING IN SPINNING OR SPINNING AND TWISTING MACHINES The present invention relates to spinning or spinning and twisting machines, and more specifically to appliances for automatic thread piecing in these machines.

Known in the present state of the art are appliances for automatic thread piecing wherein the end of a broken thread is first pinched in a vee-shaped slot formed by the plates of a catching member and is then joined by the piecing roller to a roving coming out of a drawing mechanism, the integrity of the thread between the drawing mechanism and the thread guide being controlled by an electric pickup.

The main disadvantage of the conventional appliances lies in the fact that the end of the thread is pulled out of the slot of the catching member in the process of piecing, and fibres of yarn may sometimes remain in the slot resulting in the subsequent operation of the appliance being unreliable.

Moreover, the electric pickup complicates the design of the appliance, and lowers the reliability of its operation in the dusty and humid atmosphere of spinning shops.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above disadvantages.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an appliance for automatic thread piecing in spinning or spinning and twisting machines, that insures quality attachment of thread to roving, improves reliability of operation, has a simpler design, and facilitates the operators work.

This object is achieved with an appliance for automatic thread piecing, wherein the end of the broken thread is pinched in a vee-slot formed by the plates of the catching member, and is then joined by a piecing roller to the roving emerging from a drawing mechanism, the piecing roller, according to the invention, being located in such a position relative to the catching member, that a tangent drawn to this roller from the junction point of the plates of the catching member forms an acute angle with the plane of the catching member in order to release the pinched end of the thread, an arrangement to remove the released thread end from the catching member being provided in the present appliance.

Such a design insures a constant length of the attached thread piece (equalling the distance from the catching member to the piecing roller), which improves the quality of piecing. Moreover, the provision of the arrangement to remove the released thread end from the catching member permits cleaning the latter of fibres, which fact improves the operational reliability of the appliance.

The arrangement to remove the released thread end in said appliance preferably made in the form of a diaphragm-type pneumatic drive and a pneumatic nozzle working from a signal produced by a pneumatic control device. This permits an appliance of simple design to be obtained.

Said pneumatic control device can be made common to several appliances to facilitate the operation and reduce the cost of a group of such appliances.

The invention is further exemplified by a particular embodiment thereof with references to the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a general view of the appliance according to the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the position of the appliance in a machine;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a pneumatic control device used in the appliance according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a connection diagram for a group of appliances.

The appliance for automatic thread piecing illustrated in the drawing comprises a catching member 1 (FIGS. 1, 2), a piecing roller 2, an arrangement to remove the released thread end from the catching member 1, and a pneumatic control device 3.

The catching member 1 is constituted by two plates 5 and 6 fixed in body 4, which plates are connected to one another by spring 7 and form a V-slot, wherein the end of broken thread 8 is pinched. Plate 6 is fixedly connected to body 4, whereas plate 5 can turn therein about pivot 9 (FIG. 3).

Piecing roller 2 is mounted on axle l0, fixed on body 11, and is positioned with respect to the catching member 1 so that a tangent drawn to said roller from the junction point of plates 5 and 6 forms an acute angle a (FIG. 2) with the plane wherein plates 5 and 6 are located.

The arrangement to remove the released thread end from the catching member consists of a diaphragm-type pneumatic drive and pneumatic nozzle 12, which are actuated by a signal produced by pneumatic control device 3.

The pneumatic drive consists of diaphragm 13 (FIG. 3), pusher 14, and spring 15, diaphragm 13 being fixed between body 11 and cover 16.

Pneumatic control device 3 comprises housing 17 with two chambers A and B separated by partition 18 (FIG. 4) and provided with two nozzles 19 (one nozzle in each chamber). Partition 18 has a central hole accommodating bar 20 with two washers 21, to which rubber chokes 22 and 23 are fixed. Spring 24 presses on bar 20, thus forcing choke 23 to close the central hole in partition 18 and so separates chamber A from chamber B.

Placed on housing 17 is a diaphragm 25, and located thereon is separator 26, whose chambers C and D communicate with each other. Mounted in chamber D is spring 27, which through washer 28 tends to press diaphragm 29 to the nozzle of throttle 30 which has two nozzles 31 and 32 for two chamber E and F, respectively. Placed on the housing of throttle 30 is steel plate 33, and mounted thereon is cover 34 of throttle 30 with adjusting screw 35.

Chambers A and E are connected to general supply network 36, wherein air pressure of 4 to 2.5 kg/cm is maintained. In control network 37 the air pressure is 5.5 kg/cm i5%.

A signal to diaphragm 13 for the action of the diaphragm drive, as well as to nozzle 12 is sent from chamber B of control device 3.

The operation of device 3 is governed by a pneumatic pickup of nozzle-and-shutter type, which consists of nozzle 38 and shutter 39. Nozzle 38 is fixed on body 11 and connected with chambers F and D of device 3, and shutter 39 is made integral with body 4 and is permanently pressed to nozzle 38 by spring 40 (FIG. 2).

Device 3 is fixed to working cylinder 41, inside which piston 42 with piston rod 43 are located.

Mounted on piston rod 43 is slide block 44 to which flexible pulling member 45 passing round pulley 46 is fastened by a screw. Pulley 46 rotates on axle 47 fixed in bracket 48 which is attached to plate 49. Flexible pulling member 45 is wound on hub 50 of body 11 (FIG. 3). Fitted on the other hub 51 of body 11 by its inside turn is a helical spring 52, whose outside turn is through pin 53 attached to lever 54. Fixed in the latter is axle 55, on which body 11 and body 4 of the catching member 1 are freely mounted. Lever 54 rotates on axle 47 (FIG. 2) and is connected with piston rod 43 through a pin. Fitted on piston rod 43 is limiter 56 of the balloon formed by thread 8. Cylinder 41 is through axle 57 secured to bracket 48.

Pneumatic control device 3 can be made common for a group of appliances. In this case it is mounted on one of cylinders 41 (FIGS) of the group of appliances, the other pneumatic cylinders 41, nozzles 12 and nozzles 38 of the pneumatic pickups being connected to the common control device 3 of this group through the respective connection networks 58, 59, 60.

The appliance operates as follows.

In the initial position that of readiness of the appliance to catch the thread in case of its breakage piston rod 43 with piston 42 are in the forward position, protruding at a maximum from cylinder 41. At the same time lever 54, body 11 and balloon limiter 56 take the bottom position, so that thread 8 passes through the wide portion of the V-slot between plates 5 and 6. Balloon limiter 56 slightly touches thread 8, which prevents the thread from ballooning between drawing mechanism 61 and thread guide 62.

In the initial position air is fed under pressure to noule 32 of throttle 30 from control network 37. Plate 33 is raised by screw 35 to nozzle 32, so that air is gradually throttled and accumulated in chambers F, D and C. Under the action of this pressure and that of spring 27 29 is pressed to nozzle 31, thus shutting off chamber E and network 60. Under the effect of pressure in chamber C diaphragm 25 presses on washer 21 of bar 20, forcing choke 22 to nozzle 19 and disconnecting chamber A from network 58.

Under such conditions there is no air pressure in the front and rear chambers of cylinder 41, over diaphragm 13 and in nozzle 12.

In case thread 8 is broken, its end is pinched between plates 5 and 6, and the tension of thread 8 causes catching member 1 to turn about axle 55, whereby spring 40 is compressed and nozzle 38 of the pneumatic pickup is opened.

Air from nozzle 38, network 59, and chambers F, D and C is let out to the atmosphere, whereupon bar 20 under the effect of spring 24 passes into its other extreme position, choke 23 being pressed by washer 21 to nozzle 19. Thus air from chamber A does not reach network 58. Air from network 36 coming into chamber E presses against diaphragm 29, compresses spring 27, and through network 60 passes into the front chamber of cylinder 41, urging piston 42 with piston rod 43 into the rear position until roller 2 is pressed against the fluted roll of drawing mechanism 61. Meanwhile slide block 44 pulls flexible member 45, which winds up spring 52 and so turns body 11. Roller 2 contacts thread 8 and unreels it from the cop until it is pressed to the fluted roll of the drawing mechanism. After roller 2 is brought into contact with the fluted roll, thread 8 squeezed between roller 2 and the fluted roll, which is in constant rotation, becomes tensioned within the section between roller 2 and the catching member 1, and owing to the acute angle a the thread is not pulled out from the slot of the catching member, 1 but is broken therein.

Plate 49 reciprocating along the machine in synchronism with the run of the web ensures movement of the whole appliance following the web emerging from drawing mechanism 61, and secures accurate laying of thread 8 by roller 2 ontothe roving despite the run thereof. As a result, the broken thread 8 is pieced up to the web, the thread breakage is eliminated, and the operation of the machine is resumed.

Once freed from tension of thread 8, the catching member 1 is returned by spring 40 into the initial position, closing nozzle 38 with shutter 39. Air from network 37 is throttled between nozzle 32 and plate 33, and accumulated in chambers F, D and C. As the pressure in chamber D gradually increases, the effort of spring 27 together with the pressure in this chamber through washer 28 cause diaphragm 29 to be pressed against nozzle 31, air supply into network 60 and the front chamber of cylinder 41 being thus discontinued, and the air from the front chamber being let out into the atmosphere through the clearance between cylinder 41 and piston rod 43. Further increase in pressure in chambers F, D and C results in membrane 25 compressing spring 24 and through washer 21 of bar 20 urging choke 23 away from nozzle 19, so that the air from chamber A and network 36 is fed into chamber B and network 58 until the pressure in chamber C is built up to a level sufficient for final compression of spring 24 and closure of nozzle 19 and chamber B by choke 22.

The time of pressure increase in chambers F, D and C depends on the extent of air throttling from network 37 into chamber F. This time, and hence the duration of the signal from the pneumatic control device 3 to network 58 is adjusted by tightening plate 33 to nozzle 32 by means of screw 35.

The air from network 58 is simultaneously fed to the rear chamber of cylinder 41, moving piston 42 with piston rod 43 into the extreme forward position, and into nozzle 12 and the pneumatic diaphragm drive, displacing diaphragm 13 with slot and cleans the catching member 1.

er disconnection of network 58 from network 36 the air from network 58 is through nozzle 12 passed into the atmosphere, and spring 15 returns pusher 14 into the initial position, allowing plates 5 and 6 to be pressed together by spring 7.

When piston 42 with piston rod 43 moves out from cylinder 41, slide block 44 permits spring 52 to unwind and reel flexible pulling member 45 on hub 50 as this flexible member is let free by the movement of slide block 44.

While unwinding, spring 52 turns body 11 relative to lever 54 into the initial position.

Moving forward, piston rod 43 turns lever 54 about axle 47 and sets this lever into the initial position. At the end of travel of rod 43, limiter 56 of the balloon of thread 8 slightly touches the thread, and taking the initial position retains the thread in the required area within the vee-shaped slot of the catching member 1.

' Thus the appliance returns to its initial position.

In case networks 58, 59 and 60 connect one control device 3 with several appliances, the latter work in synchronism according to the described principle of operation.

For simultaneous lifting or sinking of all these appliances in the machine in order to doff the cops or don the spools it is sufficient to relieve the pressure or direct it to network 37 from the control board; in this case the appliance works as in the case of thread breakage and piecing.

What we claim is:

1. An appliance for automatic thread piecing in spinning or spinning and twisting machines, comprising: a drawing mechanism; a piecing roller adapted for attaching the thread to roving emerging from said drawing mechanism; a catching member including a pair of plates movable relative to one another; a V-shaped slot formed by said plates and adapted for pinching the end of a broken thread, said piecing roller being so positioned relative to the catching element that a tangent drawn to said roller from the junction point of said V-shaped slot in said plates defines an acute angle with a plane wherein the plates are located; means for removing the broken thread end from the catching member, and means supporting said plates about a common pivotal connection for rotation in a second plane transverse of the first said plane wherein said plates are located, said plates pivoting in said second plane upon breaking of said thread.

2. An appliance, as set forth in claim 1, comprising a pneumatic control device adapted for producing a signal and wherein the means for removing the broken thread end includes a diaphragm-type pneumatic drive and a pneumatic nozzle actuated by the signal produced by said pneumatic control device.

3. An appliance, as set forth in claim 2, comprising means for coupling the pneumatic control device common to at least one other appliance adapted to eliminate thread breakages.

4. An appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for removing the thread from the catching member includes a pusher engageable with one of said plates for pivoting the latter in said first plane away from the other of said plates, and pneumatic means for actuating said pusher.

5. An appliance as claimed in claim 4 including resilient means for returning said pusher to a position such that said plates are maintained in thread-catching position. 

1. An appliance for automatic thread piecing in spinning or spinning and twisting machines, comprising: a drawing mechanism; a piecing roller adapted for aTtaching the thread to roving emerging from said drawing mechanism; a catching member including a pair of plates movable relative to one another; a V-shaped slot formed by said plates and adapted for pinching the end of a broken thread, said piecing roller being so positioned relative to the catching element that a tangent drawn to said roller from the junction point of said V-shaped slot in said plates defines an acute angle with a plane wherein the plates are located; means for removing the broken thread end from the catching member, and means supporting said plates about a common pivotal connection for rotation in a second plane transverse of the first said plane wherein said plates are located, said plates pivoting in said second plane upon breaking of said thread.
 2. An appliance, as set forth in claim 1, comprising a pneumatic control device adapted for producing a signal and wherein the means for removing the broken thread end includes a diaphragm-type pneumatic drive and a pneumatic nozzle actuated by the signal produced by said pneumatic control device.
 3. An appliance, as set forth in claim 2, comprising means for coupling the pneumatic control device common to at least one other appliance adapted to eliminate thread breakages.
 4. An appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for removing the thread from the catching member includes a pusher engageable with one of said plates for pivoting the latter in said first plane away from the other of said plates, and pneumatic means for actuating said pusher.
 5. An appliance as claimed in claim 4 including resilient means for returning said pusher to a position such that said plates are maintained in thread-catching position. 